The Daily Valet. - 9/14/20, Monday

✔️ This Is Out of Control

September 14, 2020

Monday, September 14th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

Your weekend was definitely better than Chris Evans' ...

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today's edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Fires Keep Burning Out of Control

4.6 million acres burned and death toll rises in Western wildfires

What was already a historic, horrifying start to the 2020 fire season out West is continuing to get worse.

According to the New York Times, the arrival of the stronger winds on Sunday tested the resolve of fire crews already exhausted by weeks of combating blazes that have consumed around 5 million acres of desiccated forests, incinerated numerous communities and created what in many places was measured as the worst air quality on the planet.

The flames up and down the West Coast have destroyed neighborhoods, leaving nothing but charred rubble and burned-out cars, forced tens of thousands to flee and cast a shroud of smoke that has given Seattle, San Francisco and Portland some of the worst air quality in the world.

Officials are telling residents in Washington to stay indoors, close windows and avoid strenuous exercise outdoors. And California Governor Gavin Newsom said the air quality in wildfire zones “is equivalent to smoking 20 packs of cigarettes.”

As of Monday morning, nearly all the dozens of people reported missing after a devastating blaze in southern Oregon have been accounted for, authorities said over the weekend as crews battled wildfires that have killed at least 35 from California to Washington state, reports the Associated Press.

As the West burns there is consensus among scientists of the role that climate change is playing in the size and intensity of the fires. A climate scientist told the Times it’s simple: “Warmer and drier conditions create drier fuel,” said Dr. Duffy, a physicist. “What would have been a fire easily extinguished now just grows very quickly and becomes out of control.”

↦ FYI: These colossal fires look ever more menacing when viewed from space.

Oracle Wins Bid for TikTok in U.S.

The deal an hour after Microsoft’s failed attempt

Oracle has won a deal to manage TikTok’s U.S. cloud operations. The California-based cloud computing giant had been rumored to be part of the bidding process to acquire TikTok, but the Wall Street Journal reports that the company has been selected as a "trusted tech partner" instead.

Front-runner Microsoft, which was pursuing a deal along with partner Walmart, said in a statement that its bid was rejected by Beijing-based ByteDance. According to CNET, Microsoft said it would have made "significant changes" to TikTok to ensure security, privacy, online safety, and combatting disinformation.

President Trump has said that he would shut down TikTok in the U.S. if it isn’t sold to an American company by Sept. 15. And while this still needs government approval, according to The Verge, Oracle has a history of collaborating with the government, which means this will likely work out

↦ Dig Deeper: Everything you need to know about the whole TikTok saga.

Special Promotion

Words matter. This shoe brand is taking a stand and making a statement.

Will There Be Another Stimulus Check?

Who will likely get new payment and how quickly might it come?

If a new stimulus package or executive order yields a second stimulus check of up to $1,200 per adult before 2020 is out, you could receive it more quickly than last time, if you meet the qualifications.

But according to Newsweek, lawmakers in Congress are still in disagreement on the price tag attached to another round. The months-long partisan gridlock has left several members of Washington doubting that a deal will be passed before the November election.

When and if another stimulus check gets the green light, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said it would take about a week to mobilize the first payments. CNET speculated as to some possible dates when that could happen—September 28 being the absolute earliest direct deposits could start going out.

Though the timeline keeps shifting in response to the latest news from Washington. But according to Intelligencer, another set of payments just like the first ones remains very likely if—and only if—there is a stimulus deal.

Make Great Coffee While Half Asleep

This is the first pod brewer with fully customizable settings

If you've ever wanted a morning coffee with the convenience of a capsule machine but the flavor and variety of a sophisticated home brew, you'll soon be in luck.

The coffee enthusiasts at Morning just launched a crowd-funding project for a smart coffee brewer that easily turns out customized coffees at the push of a button, reports Hypebeast.

The machine connects to an app so you can track your favorite recipes. And aficionados will appreciate such features as a built-in scale for greater brewing control (gauging the intensity of the brew from weight, not volume) and an "intermittent wave brewing system," which the company claims makes a difference in the quality, texture and mouthfeel of the drink—hot or cold.

In short, it's coffee snob taste with a Folgers amount of effort.

↦ Buy It: Back the Kickstarter now to reserve one of the first machines, once they're ready.

In Other News

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

The stuff we’re buying this week

Beer for dogs

Vintage ads

Special Promotion

Easygoing, With a Side of Strength

SeaVees takes a stand for truth with a standout print

I gotta say, I’m into this. SeaVees was already a go-to sneaker brand for me, because they’re classically cool and really comfortable. But now I respect them for taking a stand and making a statement about the importance of integrity. The brand has partnered with Committee to Protect Journalists—an organization that promotes free press around the world and defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and accurately—for a limited edition shoe.

The Words Matter print features original artwork inspired by redacted government documents. Along the edge of the outsole is a repeated scroll of “words matter.” The shoes are subtle, but they’re sure to start a conversation or two. The brand says the design highlights “that what you say and what you write matters. The truth matters.” What’s more, SeaVees will be donating 5% of all proceeds to the CPJ.

↦ Get It: $95 at SeaVees

What We’re Buying

You've seen “relaxation methods” come in all forms; gummies, tinctures, pens, apps and more. But what better way to enjoy a clear moment than with a refreshing drink? “Moment” is not a CBD drink, it's a botanical beverage. It provides a crisp, extremely tasty and all-natural drink to help give you some zen in your life. It has none of that nasty fake stuff that big brand juices include, and it has all the goodness of that way-too-expensive CBD product you keep buying, but no caffeine or added sugar. Plus, it ships for free.

↦ Get It $18 for six at Moment